Dairy

Colin Marr runs Cultercullen Farm near Udny Station with his wife Carol. Recently sons Nicholas and Gavin have become partners in the business after completing their respective studies. Colin is keen to invest in the future of the business, which began when his grandfather took over, what was then a tenanted farm in the 1930s, taking an already established dairy with him from another farm in the area.

As many dairy farmers across the country pull the plug and get out of the industry altogether, others have expanded, but so far in this country very few have converted from beef and sheep or any other farming enterprises into dairying.

The dairy industry faces a number of challenges as it moves into the next decade of the 21st century – an aging workforce reducing in size; the need for workers to refresh their dairy skills to meet the increasing demands of a more technical industry; and the ever increasing demands of production from our Bovine partners – are only a few.

The Annandale Holstein Herd from Milton at Beattock run by Matthew and William Armour has topped the Scottish league table for production for the fifth year in succession. Their 138 cows averaged 12334Kg milk with a combined fat and protein output of 893kg in 305 days.